We have witnessed cases during Buhari-led government where corruption suspects from opposition parties get cover after crossing-over to the ruling APC
By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
The trending saga between Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, brings ray of hope to onlookers in the country.
Decades of media trial from former President Muhammadu Buhari to now of President Bola Tinubu Nigerians cast doubt as to the sincerity of anti-graft war in a country brought to her knees by catastrophic corruption, which has killed barely all breathing sectors in the country.
From education to health, agriculture and the economy; all have over the years been ravaged by unapologetic corruption mesmerising people, particularly the poor being killed by armed groups in the country with no hope insight.
Will I be correct to say President Tinubu began on sound footing by attempting to step on hitherto untouchable toes? The ongoing trial of former apex bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, recent arrest of former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika and several others on the pipeline indeed rekindle our hopes that perhaps it may not be business as usual.
Much as the judiciary remains the headache and the stumbling block to a just, transparent and holistic anti-graft war, lack of political will must be taken into cognisance because it has been the bane, over the years by successive administrations in Nigeria, to minimally downscale corruption.
The focal point, however, is how the ruling APC intends to come clean on allegations of shielding its own, no matter the gravity of the offence, we have witnessed cases during Buhari-led government where corruption suspects from opposition parties get cover after crossing-over to the ruling APC. Names will not be mentioned, but my claim is a public knowledge.
Our heighten hope hinges on the fact that, the ruling party is after her own including the pet son of the ruling party. During the Buhari era who then wine and dine with the high ups in the villa, will the ruling party sacrifice him to set an unprecedented anti-graft war, which we Nigerians and beyond our shores will be proud of. Could it also be war that will repaint us white in the eyes of the world?
It remains to be seen how the judiciary and the executives will win the war against corruption. To get it right, the president must put patriotism forward and follow it up with political will, and courage even if it means sacrificing his second coming to write his name in gold as one who brought back Nigeria on track in the fight against corruption. Will Yahaya Bello become APC’s sacrificial lamb?
Usman, a journalist writes in from Birnin Kebbi.